Category Archives: Science & Technology

The Man Who Is Solving Some Of India’s Biggest Agriculture Problems With His Simple Inventions

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Science & Technology

Girish Badragond, a 28 year old guy from Bijapur District came to Bangalore in 2006 with a laptop, a wireless router and one way bus fare. Now, after six years he is a partner at Santepp Systems, a fast growing technocrat proprietary firm in the field of agricultural technology manufacture.

“Ever since I was a child, I loved playing with the machines. My first experience in machine was when I dismantled my cousin’s watch and fixed it again,” Badragond says.

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As we walk inside his office, the light switches on automatically and turns off as soon as we leave the room. His eyes sparkle as he talks about the sensors in his office space. “This saves around 60 percent of the energy,” he says.

When he first moved to Bangalore, he had no money with him. He stayed with his friends for a couple of days and then found a room on sharing basis. With the help of an old DTH antenna he enhanced his router and sold the bandwidth upto 10 kms and earned some money.

SSLC pass Badragond didn’t get an opportunity to study further but this didn’t come in the way of his dreams. When he was in High school, he could easily do projects like making an inverter, power supplier etc. for engineering students.

Supported by NABARD and NIF, Santepp Systems, provides simple solutions to various agricultural needs. Some of his inventions include-

Bore well Scanners

Studying underground water has never been easier. The Borewell scanners have a camera with flash and180 degree rotation in horizontal space. The equipment can click pictures, check inflow and outflow of the water.

“It also checks whether the borewell has stagnant water. There is no point digging a borewell when there is no proper inflow of water as it is waste of money,” says Badragond.

 

Bore well scanners can also check for leakages and holes.

Advanced Mode Micro irrigation system

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This unique irrigation controller helps you to operate the pump sets and irrigation valves from remote places without physically being there.

Micro irrigation controller regulates the flow of water and feeds water to plants to the extent of their requirement. There by water wastage is minimized and available water is put to max usage.

“Drip irrigation sometimes leads to excess water to the crops which spoils the crop, while this system works according to the crops’ needs,” says Badragond.

The solar sensors are inserted in the soil at various places, these sensors send signal to the unit. The unit will automatically turn on the motor for water flow according to the priority and turn off after the requirement is fulfilled.

The system can cover over 10 acres of land and costs Rs. 1.5 lakhs. The basic version of the machine covers 2-3 acres of land and costs Rs. 20, 000-Rs.25,000.

Bandragond has also developed an android app for the system.

Bird Repeller

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This equipment with eight speakers and a timer repels the bird through various noises. The farms are located in outskirts of the village and noises won’t trouble the villagers. The main unit is kept near an electric point. It also has 3 days battery backup.

Urban Terrace Gardening

You are going on a vacation with no one to look after your garden? This equipment by Bandragond switches on the water flow every day at prescribed time and stops after a certain time. The system costs Rs.5,000.

These are just a few of the many incredible innovations this brilliant man has up his sleeve. For more information about his inventions, please contact Girish: +91 9902133996 or email him: info@santepp.com

source: http://www.thebetterindia.com / The Better India / Home> Innovations> Agriculture / by Shreya Pareek / May 26th, 2014

Byappanahalli once belonged to Visvesvaraya’s ancestors

Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Leaders, Records, All, Science & Technology
Sir M Visvesvaraya on his 99th birthday on September 15, 1959 with then chief minister of Mysore B D Jatti
Sir M Visvesvaraya on his 99th birthday on September 15, 1959 with then chief minister of Mysore B D Jatti

It’s only fitting that an engineering marvel such as Namma Metro should first run through Byappanahalli, a hamlet that was once gifted to the ancestor of Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, engineer par excellence.

Wonderful nuggets of history came to light when the seventh generation of Sir M Visvesvaraya’s family — the Byappanahalli clan that lives in Jayanagar — was putting together their family tree on the occasion of their matriarch’s hundredth birthday. Savithramma, now 102, is the wife of late Byappanahalli Mokshagundam Lakshmipathaiah. She has eight children, some 15 grandchildren and over 20 great-grandchildren and is the oldest in the clan.

“I’ve heard there is a 112-year-old person in Karnataka. People of our generation are stronger and healthier,’’ said the toothless grand old lady, who eats ragi mudde for meals and can chew chakkli-kodbele (local snacks) with her gums! Barring a recent hip bone fracture which has bound her to the wheelchair, the centenarian is otherwise healthy and her memory razor sharp.

“Tracing the family tree was tough, but we did it,’’ said M Chandrashekar, Savithramma’s son.

Their search for roots through black-and-white pictures and inputs from the oldest surviving members culminated in a comprehensive family tree that originated from Mokshagundam village.

The roots

The Mokshagundam family gets its name from a village in Andhra Pradesh from where Sir M Visvesvaraya’s family hails. Several generations before MV, Lakshmipathi Bhatta was the Dewan of Doddabyrappa, the chieftain (Palegaara) of Avathi near Chikballapur.

The chieftain was so impressed with his Dewan’s work that he gifted him three villages — Byappanahalli, Muddenahalli and Bandepalli, all falling along the Bangalore-Kolar stretch. Bhatta’s property was inherited by three grandsons — Byappanahalli by Chikkavenkappa, Muddenahalli by Thimmappa Shastry, the great grandfather of Sir MV, and Bandepalli by Muddukittappa.

Byappanahalli’s growth

Once a hamlet tucked away between Bangalore and Hoskote, Byappanahalli, later associated with public sector undertaking NGEF, was considered the city’s farthest end. Over the years, it came to be looked upon as Indiranagar’s poorer cousin. But today, Byappanahalli is almost the heart of the city, with Namma Metro connecting this once-anonymous village bursting at its seams with the central business district. After the Metro was commissioned, realty prices shot north, touching Rs 7,000 per sqft.

Savithramma’s sons recall how their father — an amaldar (now called tahsildar) in the erstwhile British and Karnataka governments — would always talk about the family’s lands in Byappanahalli that went unclaimed.
“Since the entire village belonged to our clan, the family had huge tracts of lands. In fact, my father used to often say that we should have searched for the properties and got possession. Of course, nobody really put their heads together and since then, the lands must have changed many hands,’’ said M Prabhakar, retired HoD from the Government Women’s Polytechnic College.

The lands may have gone, but the memories remain. “As far as we remember, my father and Visvesvaraya’s son were in touch with each other and we have a  picture of them together,’’ said Chandrashekar.

Visvesvaraya, who constructed the Krishna Raja Sagara dam in Mysore and was knighted commander of the British Indian Empire by King George V, is held in high esteem in the international engineering circuit. In fact, his birth anniversary which falls on September 15 is celebrated as Engineers’ Day in India.

Savithramma’s husband used to talk about the family’s lands that went unclaimed

source: http://www.bangaloremirror.com / Bangalore Mirror / Home> Bangalore> Others / by S. Kushala / Mar 04th, 2012

Shariff’s City’s First Home Appliance Store

Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology

checks out… but checks into a new location

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by S. Kenneth Shishir

City’s first home appliance store Shariff Electricals, established in 1938, is now on the move. The present store housed in the old building opposite the Bata Showroom on Sayyaji Rao road, which also housed other old popular stores of Mysore like Krishnaswamy Stationeries and Panchacharya Press, is now being vacated as the building is weak and the old iconic stores are finding new locations. And so Shariff’s, the most popular among the shops and the most sought after place for home appliance in city for more than 75 years too is moving out. Luckily for the old customers they are not moving very far from the old. The new store is still on Sayyaji Rao road opposite Devaraja Market main entrance.

M.A. Shariff, Managing Director of Shariff Electricals and his father late Hyder Shariff, were electrical contractors who not only dealt in electrical items but also specialised in wooden electrical casing. Hyder Shariff did most of the electrical casing work in the Mysore Palace and then his son M.A. Shariff ventured into electrical appliance business and took up distribution of GEEP torches, dry cells and bulbs under the name Shariff Sales and General Agencies on Old Bank Road in city. Soon companies such as Philips, Crompton Greaves, Usha and Khaitan came calling noticing that Shariff had become Mysore’s one-stop-shop for basic home electrical items. As business grew, in 1981 they opened their official electrical appliances store, Shariff’s-1. Then the second Shariff’s-2 was opened in 1995. In 2006 Shariff’s-3, a multi-brand and multi-storeyed showroom of home appliances began. M.A. Shariff’s children Maqsood and Faizy now manage these stores.

When M.A. Shariff was asked how he felt about moving out of the old store, he says “it feels bad, but it was bound to happen. The building was old” and adds “but I have to thank our customers in Mysore who made us what we are today.” When asked how he has managed to have such loyal clientele, he says “in sales you must make customer the king…and service is the king- maker. That’s what makes customers keep coming back.”

Speaking of the new challenge posed by online retail, Maqsood, the elder son of M.A. Shariff says, “we have to accept the challenge and we must learn from it. The best way is Omni-line: have both an online store and a brick and mortar shop. This way it removes the hassle of returns and service. It also helps the touch and feel factor which is missing in online stores.” Maqsood says Shariff’s will launch their shopping website soon.

Faizy, the youngest son of M.A. Shariff, speaking about the new multi-floored Shariff’s says that with the large space available now, they can display more products and also stock more. He adds, ” ‘NO, we don’t have that’ is something our customers will never hear from us.” Looks like the mantra of “service is king-maker” rings deep in this family.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / Monday, November 03rd, 2014

Department of Sports and Exercise Medicine inaugrated at St. Joseph’s Hospital

Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology
Seen in the picture are (from left) Fr. Mari Raj, Administrator, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Dr. C. Krishna, Director, PE Department, University of Mysore, Fr. Marie Joseph, Vicar General, Diocese of Mysore, Dr. R. Girish Chandra, Consultant, Arthroscopic Surgeon, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Dr. J.S. Hegde, Consultant, Orthopaedic Surgeon and Fr. Denis Noronha, Sr. Member, St. Joseph’s Hospital.
Seen in the picture are (from left) Fr. Mari Raj, Administrator, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Dr. C. Krishna, Director, PE Department, University of Mysore, Fr. Marie Joseph, Vicar General, Diocese of Mysore, Dr. R. Girish Chandra, Consultant, Arthroscopic Surgeon, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Dr. J.S. Hegde, Consultant, Orthopaedic Surgeon and Fr. Denis Noronha, Sr. Member, St. Joseph’s Hospital.

Mysore :

The Department of Sports and Exercise Medicine of St. Joseph’s Hospital in city, which is said to be first of its kind in Mysore, was inaugurated by the chief guest Dr. C. Krishna, Director, Department of Physical Education, University of Mysore, this morning at the hospital premises.

In his inaugural speech, Dr. Krishna said: “Doctors are like God because they save the lives of people.”

He recalled Mother Teresa’s service towards society and appreciated St. Joseph’s Hospital management for starting this new department.

Dr. J.S. Hegde, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, who was also one of the guests, said, “Mysore city was in need of a Department of Sports and Exercise Medicine. St. Joseph’s Hospital has taken the initiative in starting the same.”

Enlightening the audience about the Department, Dr. Girish Chandra, Consultant Arthroscopic Surgeon of the Hospital, gave a power-point presentation on ‘Sports and Exercise Medicine.’

“The Department of Sports and Exercise Medicine at St.Joseph’s Hospital provides expert consultation and advise on a certain type of activity relevant to an individual, prescription of precise exercise and promotion of general health,” said Dr. Girish.

He further explained that the said department offers a complete range of services focusing on preventing and treating injury and illnesses and helping athletes. Thus, enabling them to perform to optimum level.

St. Joseph’s Hospital is offering surgical management of the following common injuries such as ligament injuries of the knee joint (Anterior and Posterior Cruciate ligaments), Meniscus tears of the knee joint, Cartilage damage, Patella dislocation, Shoulder recurrent dislocations, Tennis Elbow/Golfer’s Elbow, Fractures around the shoulder, elbow, wrist and knee joints among others.

The Department also has plans to start exclusive Minimal Invasive Operation Theatre, Research on cartilage culture and transplant, Treatment with platelet rich plasma injection and start a sports medicine training institute among others.

Mr. Xavier D’Souza, Medical Superintendent of the Hospital, welcomed. Fr. Mari Raj, Administrator of the Hospital, proposed a vote of thanks.

Fr. Marie Joseph, Vicar General, Diocese of Mysore, Sports persons, sports coaches and doctors were present on the occasion.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News  / Thursday,  October 30th, 2014

Israeli tech whets once-barren farm

Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Dry farming techniques gave a new twist to organic farming on this land

Sunita Prabhakar, director, Gopalan Organics, is today proud about the manner Israeli technique of dry farming helped her team to turn around the 100-acre barren land to grow organic crops for exports
Sunita Prabhakar, director, Gopalan Organics, is today proud about the manner Israeli technique of dry farming helped her team to turn around the 100-acre barren land to grow organic crops for exports

Away from the hustle and bustle of Bangalore city areas, in Uttari and surrounding villages, falling under Kagalipura post, a silent socio-agronomics revolution, inspired and propelled by Israeli farming techniques, is slowly gaining momentum. Spearheading the campaign from a 100-acre organic farm is one young entrepreneur, a graduate in environmental science and in her 30s, determined to make organic a mass movement.

Every morning before the crack of dawn a vehicle leaves the organic farm and reaches out to the adjacent villages to pick up enterprising men and women for training in production of organically grown vegetables and high-value export quality herbs like basil, chives, sage, tarragon, rosemary, parsley, thyme, mint etc. at the sprawling organic farm located in the foothills of the nearby Uttari Hills.

“After training in organic farming, many of them have begun growing organic vegetables. We purchase their produce after ascertaining their quality. Some of these organic vegetables are sold at our Gopalan Organics outlet at Old Madras Road in Bangalore. A portion of the produce makes it to the export markets in Dubai and European markets after stringent quality checks”, says Sunita Prabhakar, the brain behind the grassroots organic farming movement. “My mission is to remove the elitist tag off organic vegetables and make them available to common households at affordable rates. After all everyone is entitled to organically grown, healthy, chemical fertilizer and pesticides free farm produce,” explains Director of Gopalan Organics, Sunita Prabhakar, who started her organic unit in 2003, in what was then a barren land, bought by her real estate developer husband’s family in Bangalore heading the ‘Gopalan Enterprises’.

However, although today the organic vegetables and culinary herbs company exports dry, natural herbs and fresh vegetables to a large number of markets in Western Europe and Dubai respectively and employs over 200 workforce including farmers, agronomists and agricultural scientists, 10 years ago when Sunita threw the idea of starting her organic venture on the rocky, godforsaken land, many did not take her seriously.

She had seen for herself how Israelis mastered the art of dry agriculture with minimal use of water. She was determined to bring the technology to India.

The conviction and determination paid off.

In the summer of 2000 a group of Israeli dry farming experts from Netafim Irrigation System landed at the barren, undulated rocky piece of land.

They examined the prospect of turning it into fertile land for growing organically produced vegetables, herbs and fruits. A mammoth and uphill task awaited them as for the next six months they devoted their time in preparing, planning and executing the organic farm project.

It took another year for the first crop to grow at the newly developed farm.

Alongside Israeli advanced farm management expertise in water conserving irrigation, desalination, and compost enriching the farm, Sunita also adopted biodynamic farming methods pioneered by Australian thinker Rudolf Steiner to grow crops both inside temperature-control green houses and in the open fields, applying scientific soil testing methods for optimum yield per acre.

A network of drip irrigation pipes and sprinklers were laid both inside the green houses and in the open farm land.

The farm land was bifurcated for growing crops under controlled climatic conditions inside the green-houses, and tunnels in the open. “Those days very few people were doing organic farming. There was hardly any infrastructural or technical support available in the country to do dry organic farming. The greatest challenge was to export the basic infrastructure from Israel and then transport them to this remote village from Bangalore Airport. But we managed it all,” says Sunita.

The organic farm today produces 800 to 900 Metric Tonnes of vegetables and fresh and dry culinary herbs under the brand name of ‘Naturale’.

“Of the total volume, we exports 300 to 400 MT of mainly fresh and dry herbs to Germany, Amsterdam, Vienna, Munich, Frankfurt, Belgium, etc. places. To ensure strict adherence to European quality control norms, the vegetables and fresh herbs undergo tests at all levels- from farmland to packaging table-at the analytical lab.

Scientific soil analysis and preparation, soil-enriching using organic manure, plant analysis, bio-degradable poly packaging, processing and storing to retain temperature levels are undertaken,” says K Babu, the agricultural scientist at the farm. Babu further said for the protection of crop bio agents and other Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices were being followed as against indiscriminate use of harmful chemical pesticides. Each consignment can also be tracked back right down to the date and green house in which it was grown.

Sunita explains: “To ensure freshness of the produce till they are handed over to customers in Germany and other European countries an uninterrupted cold chain from farm to the customer is maintained. The produce is subjected to pre-cooling treatment that increases the shelf life and reduces break down of the nutrients. The air-conditioned pack houses are equipped with all necessary equipment and facilities in consonance with international standards.”

Sunita, who has visited organic farms in Europe, feels the government must support adoption of automation and IT to streamline and modernise organic farming.

​DRY FARMING

It is a type of farming practised in arid areas without irrigation or with drip irrigation and maintaining a fine surface tilth or mulch that protects the natural moisture of the soil from evaporation. Dryland farming involves quite a struggle to set the crop cycle going.

HOW AND WHERE IT ORIGINATED

Dry farming originated in the 19th century in the Great Plains of USA to accelerate production of certain crops, most notably wheat. It should be practised in areas where rainfall averages less than twenty inches a year. Hardy Webster Campbell, a South Dakota homesteader, invented a subsoil packer circa 1890 and thereafter operated demonstration farms for railroads. By the end of the century dry farming was championed as the solution to the agricultural problems of the Great Plains.
(Source: Encyclopaedia of Oklahama History and Culture)

source: http://www.bangaloremirror.com / Bangalore Mirror / Home> Others> Sci-Tech / Agencies / by Dipankar Chakraborty / October 29th, 2014

Kasturba Hospital pioneers yet another landmark — bone marrow transplantation

Records, All, Science & Technology

Mangalore :

The first Bone Marrow transplantation at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal was performed on a patient with Multiple Myeloma.

The advanced oncology treatment medical procedure – Autologus Bone Marrow transplant – was performed by Medical Oncology department under the leadership of Dr Karthik S. Udupa..

Kasturi, 28 (name changed) from Raichur district, was suffering from multiple myeloma and was being treated at Shirdi Sai Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal for the same. She underwent high dose chemotherapy and Autologus stem cell transplant from September 29 to October 15. The various indications for Autologous stem cell transplant includes multiple myeloma, relapsed Hodgkin’s lymphoma, relapsed Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and also paediatric tumor like Neuroblastoma.

Autologus Bone Marrow transplant involves three steps: First step is Apheresis – mobilisation of stem cells from the bone marrow into the bloodstream and circulating stem cells are then harvested or collected. In the second step, the patient is given High dose chemotherapy dose to wipe out the problematic cells. And the third phase is the stem cell infusion phase where the stem cells are given back to the patient to reconstitute the immune system. Apheresis also was performed for the first time in the entire coastal belt of Karnataka under the guidance of Dr Shami Shastry, Associate Professor – Transfusion Medicine.

Dr (Col) M Dayananda, Medical Superintendent and COO, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal claimed: This facility was previously available only at Oncology Centres in Bangalore.

He congratulated the Team from Medical Oncology Department for making a major step in providing care to the needy patients. From now onwards, patients from coastal belt, Malnad and plains and the other nearby districts will be able to get this treatment of Bone Marrow transplantation at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal. Dr Dayananda added that this advanced medical procedure for cancer treatment is offered at a just a fraction of the cost than that available in Bangalore.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Mangalore / by Stanley Pinto, TNN / October 24th, 2014

Hubli’s first community radio set to go on air

Education, Records, All, Science & Technology
Hubli’s first community FM radio service 'KLE Dhwani BVB-90.4' is to begin from September 21
Hubli’s first community FM radio service ‘KLE Dhwani BVB-90.4’ is to begin from September 21

After days of eager anticipation, Hubli city is all set to have its first community radio service from September 21. FM radio station ‘KLE Dhwani BVB-90.4’ will operate from the campus of the BVB College of Engineering and Technology (BVB-CET).

The community radio station will broadcast programmes on folklore, education, research, technology along with entertainment.

Addressing press persons here on Tuesday, working president of KLE Society, Prabhakar Kore and Principal, BVB-CET, Prof. Ashok Shettar said that the ‘KLE Dhwani’ would be the first community FM radio station to be launched by an engineering college in northern Karnataka.

Mr. Kore said that the college had invested Rs. 50 lakhs for setting up the FM radio station with a state-of-the-art studio to ensure good acoustics. Already four radio jockeys selected from North Karntaka and trained at Bangalore had been appointed to conduct radio programmes , he said.

Mr. Kore said that the ‘KLE Dhwani’ would begin its programme with the state anthem (naada geete) and would broadcast programmes from 6.30 a.m. – 11 a.m., and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. To begin with programmes like ‘Naa Hubballiyava’, ‘Namma kale namma baduku’, ‘chavadi chat’, ‘youthgiri’ will be broadcast, he said.

The whole idea was to not only promote folk art from northern Karnataka, but also to provide the target audience with a healthy mix of entertainment and education packages.

The FM radio would have a range of 11 to 14 kilometres in the city and programmes can be heard on mobile phone handsets as well.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Karnataka / by Staff Correspondent / Hubli, September 18th, 2013

Two Mysoreans Awarded Brand Ambassadors of Vocational Training

Education, Leaders, Science & Technology
Seen in the pictures are A. Syed Amanulla and H.R. Nagendra Rao, receiving the Brand Ambassador awards from Alok Kumar, Director General of Employment and Training, Ministry of Labour and Employment, at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi recently .
Seen in the pictures are A. Syed Amanulla and H.R. Nagendra Rao, receiving the Brand Ambassador awards from Alok Kumar, Director General of Employment and Training, Ministry of Labour and Employment, at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi recently .

Mysore :

City’s A. Syed Amanulla, Principal and Deputy Director, Govt. ITI, Srirangapatna, a resident of Rajivnagar and H.R. Nagendra Rao, Managing Director, DMS Technology Pvt. Ltd., Belavadi Industrial Area and a resident of Vasu Layout in city were awarded with ‘Brand Ambassador of Vocational Training-2014’ by Ministry of Labour and Employment at a function held at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi recently.

While, Syed Amanulla received the award in Salaried Employee category, Nagendra Rao received the award in Entrepreneurship category. Amanulla, passed ITI in Fitter Trade at Kolar Gold Fields, Diploma in Mechanical Engineering through correspondence and B.E from SJCE Evening College, Mysore. Nagendra Rao passed Mechanical Draughtsmanship from NIE ITI, Mysore and runs his own unit which provides jobs to ITI passed candidates.

Among hundreds of applications, a total of 25 candidates from all over India were selected for the award under the programme ‘Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Shramev Jayate Karyakram’. The awardees were honoured by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Sunday ,  October 19th, 2014

Karnataka’s first hovercraft glides into Mangalore

Records, All, Science & Technology, Travel
Indian Coast Guard Hovercraft H-196, the third series of Air Cushion vehicle (ACV) built by UK, arrives at Panambur Beach in Mangalore on Monday.
Indian Coast Guard Hovercraft H-196, the third series of Air Cushion vehicle (ACV) built by UK, arrives at Panambur Beach in Mangalore on Monday.

In what will boost the patrolling capabilities of the Indian Coast Guard in the State, the first of the two hovercraft arrived in Mangalore on Monday. This is the first time a hovercraft will be stationed in the State.

On a sunny morning, the amphibious vehicle rode the waves, skimming over choppy waters, before parking on Panambur beach near the ICG, Karnataka headquarters.

With this acquisition, the hovercraft that has a speed of 45 knots (90 kmph) becomes the fastest vehicle in the coast guard fleet in the State.

“Not only is it fast, it can also go to areas where our ships cannot go. For example, the ships have to keep an eye on the depth of the sea and so cannot approach the shore or have to be wary of shallow seas. The hovercraft can easily land on the shore,” said Gulvinder Singh, Commandant of the hovercraft. He leads a team of 11 men.

Manufactured in the United Kingdom, the Hovercraft H-196 is 21m long and will be used for surveillance, search-and-rescue, emergency missions and to provide assistance to smaller boats at sea.

Coast guard officers said the craft is armed with heavy machine guns, radar and satellite communication — allowing it to effectively keep an eye on the 320-km long Karnataka coastline.

Mr. Singh said the crew had obtained specialised training in London and have been operating the craft along the coast since September. The Coast Guard expects the arrival of the second hovercraft within ten days.

The vehicles will be stationed in a makeshift centre at Panambur, close to the ICG Karnataka headquarters until a permanent hoverport facility will be developed over a 15-acre site at Tannirbhavi beach.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Karnataka / by Mohit M. Rao / Mangalore – September 22nd, 2014

Union Health Minister to lay foundation stone for the ‘Centre of Excellence and Museum’ at AIISH tomorrow

Education, Records, All, Science & Technology

Inauguration of ‘Audiometric Block’ and ‘Knowledge Park’

Model of the proposed Centre of Excellence and human face-shaped Museum.
Model of the proposed Centre of Excellence and human face-shaped Museum.

 Mysore :

Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, will lay the foundation stone for the ‘Centre of Excellence and Museum’ and inaugurate a newly built ‘Audiometric Block’ and ‘Knowledge Park’ at All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH), Naimisham Campus, Manasagangotri, here on Oct. 17 at 9 am.

U.T. Khader, State Minister for Health and Family Welfare, V. Sreenivasa Prasad, Revenue Minister and District in-Charge Minister and Pratap Simha, MP, Mysore & Kodagu, will be the chief guests. Dr. S.R. Savithri, Director, AIISH, will be present.

Centre of Excellence: The institute was given the status of Centre of Excellence by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, New Delhi. Under this project, it is envisaged to initiate 5 research centres, 5 clinical centres, 2 other centres and a museum on speech and hearing.

The building is housed in G+3 floors with a basement for 2/4 wheeler parking space. The building consists of the following units: Centre for hearing sciences, Centre for hearing impairment in children, adults and senior citizens, Centre for persons with swallowing disorders, Centre for persons with tinnitus and vestibular disorders, Centre for speech and language disorders in Children, Adults and senior citizens, Centre for Speech and Language Sciences, Centre for AAC and sign language, Centre for prevention of communication disorders, epidemiological research and cognitive behavioural sciences in communication disorders, Centre for Informatics & Patents and Rehabilitation engineering, Acoustics & Biomedical engineering (CRAB), Centre for surgical Rehabilitation of Communication Disorders, Centre for public education in communication disorders.

Museum: The museum, first of its kind, would be in the shape of a human face and would be a great learning experience about how we speak and hear.

Audiometric Block: The newly-built Audiometric Block housed next to the Department of Clinical Services, is a boon to the patients with hearing impairment. In total it has 18 double room suites and 3 single room suites, meaning an infrastructure where 21 clients can be tested simultaneously.

The set up has a dedicated block for paediatric and geriatric patients with independent patient waiting areas. All these rooms are acoustically treated and have state-of-art technology equipment that meets international standards. The new block will cater to the needs of growing number of patients visiting AIISH for audiological evaluation and management.

Knowledge Park: The knowledge Park houses 10 classrooms and a seminar hall.

For details, contact PRO A.R. Keerthi on Mob: 98441-81080.

Minister to visit ESI Hospital

Addressing media persons at his office in Jaladarshini on Hunsur Road in city on Wednesday, MP Pratap Simha said that Dr. Harsh Vardhan would be taken to ESI Hospital on KRS Road where he would discuss the issue of providing equipments before the Minister proceeds to Periyapatna. In Periyaptna, Dr. Harsh Vardhan will address tobacco growers before returning to Bangalore in the evening, said th MP.

Earlier, the Minister will inspect K.R. Hospital and hold meeting with officials.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home>General News / Thursday ,  October 16th, 2014